diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index 994c230027bb..7c64134472c7 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -1746,6 +1746,7 @@ int cmd_top(int argc, const char **argv)
 		goto out_delete_evlist;
 	}
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LIBBPF_SUPPORT
 	if (!top.record_opts.no_bpf_event) {
 		top.sb_evlist = evlist__new();
 
@@ -1759,6 +1760,7 @@ int cmd_top(int argc, const char **argv)
 			goto out_delete_evlist;
 		}
 	}
+#endif
 
 	if (perf_evlist__start_sb_thread(top.sb_evlist, target)) {
 		pr_debug("Couldn't start the BPF side band thread:\nBPF programs starting from now on won't be annotatable\n");